Potential students flock to traditional Higher Education disciplines to start 2026

Nursing, Education, Law and Engineering are a few of the disciplines that attracted a high level of interest from people looking to commence a Higher Education degree at Charles Darwin University in 2026.   

The interest in the more traditional Higher Education disciplines helped to increase the total number of domestic first preference applicants rose from about 11,000 in the first semester of 2025 to 13,500 in the first semester of 2026.  

Domestic student applications for Semester 1 2025 compared to Semester 1 2026 showed an increase in applications of 22% in Nursing, 10% in Law, 24% in Education, 60% in Paramedicine and 15% in Engineering. 

Darwin school-leaver Tristan Storey graduated from Taminmin College in 2024 and has started a Bachelor of Engineering, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and was not surprised by the interest in the discipline.

“I chose to study engineering because I believe it’s a great career pathway and gives more opportunities to help provide for my family,” Tristan said.  

“By completing my degree, I hope to gain not only the right qualifications but also enough experience to work within the mining industry.”  

Tristan’s decision to study with CDU reflects the University's growing popularity amongst NT high school leavers looking to undertake Higher Education in their hometowns. 

The recently launched CDU Menzies Medical Program had 165 applications from NT residents in its inaugural year. Founding Dean CDU School of Medicine Professor Di Stephens said it was not surprising there was such strong interest in the medical program.    

“Medicine is a discipline that is always in high demand, and the workforce needs in the Northern Territory for more doctors is high. The career is full of possibility for making a difference to health outcomes in our community” Professor Stephens said. 

“There is also an interest in the uniqueness of the Northern Territory course, and the uniqueness of the opportunity that comes with studying and living in the NT.”  

CDU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Fiona Coulson said it was pleasing to see such a strong interest in CDU courses with domestic students. 

“CDU has built a name for itself with its student outcomes and offering flexible courses that fit in with people’s lifestyles,” Professor Coulson said. 

“That flexibility is why CDU is appealing to a lot of people who are looking to study for a career change.  When you are changing careers, then you usually have a lot of other commitments and responsibilities, which makes flexibility key.” 

Professor Coulson said it was pleasing to see that more school leavers from the Territory were choosing CDU. 

‘It illustrates that young Territorians see that they can get the education they need right in their own backyard,” she said.